By Andrew King, Professional Lighting and Production

Only a few months back, the eyes of the entire nation were gazing westward toward Vancouver as the city hosted the 2010 Olympic Games.

An overwhelming, and perhaps disproportionate amount of that excitement was coming out of Concord Pacific Place – specifically, Molson Canadian Hockey House, the hockey hub where fans gathered over the course of the Games to celebrate together.

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By Dennis Moore, USA TODAY

VANCOUVER — The gold medal for party pavilions goes to the Molson Canadian Hockey House, according to many partiers around the city.

“It’s insane, but if you’re coming to the Olympics, you have to be here,” says Charles Stewart, who came to the Olympics from Calgary for two weeks.

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Corporate Canada ready for fun and Games

By Andrew Willis and Andy Hoffman, The Globe and Mail Posted Friday, February 12, 2010 8:22 PM ET

VANCOUVER – Jordan Bitove and Barenaked Ladies drummer Tyler Stewart are trying to rhyme off all the acts that will play at Molson Canadian Hockey House over the course of the Vancouver Games, only to be interrupted, repeatedly, by Mr. Bitove’s BlackBerry.

The curtain went up last night on what promises to be corporate schmooze central at the Olympics. Mr. Bitove’s soccer field-sized circus tent is the hot ticket for waves of Canadian executives rolling into the Games.

“It suddenly sunk in that this is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and the corporate world just has to be here,” said Mr. Bitove, founder of event planning company Vision Co.

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Beyond the rinks

Everywhere you go in Vancouver, Olympic fever reigns

Just east of Canada Hockey Place is Molson Canadian Hockey House, a huge magnet for international hockey-themed hospitality and entertainment between February 12 and 28. The numbers largely tell the story at this tent-style facility: $15 million for construction, 6,038 square metres (62,000 square feet), capacity of 3,000, a plethora of 103-inch plasma TVs showing Olympic hockey, and nightly concerts by Canadian rockers like Tom Cochrane and Colin James. Check out Hockey Hall of Fame memorabilia cases while mingling with ex-NHLers like Paul Coffey, Yvan Cournoyer, Grant Fuhr, and Denis Potvin. Wayne Gretzky Day is February 19, and the Great One will be in the house.

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Finishing touches put on Hockey House

“Welcome to the cathedral to hockey,” Hockey House creator Jordan Bitove told reporters after they toured the venue Wednesday.

The Hockey House is a stone’s throw from GM Place, which will be known as Canada Hockey Place once the Winter Olympics begin Friday. However, it’s not a cheap ticket. Fan zone passes cost $99 and they’re almost sold out. Pricier VIP passes are still available for those looking for the all-inclusive food and drinks treatment.

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Surprise act set to open Hockey House

“(We want) to show the world that Canada is the best place to party,” said Jordan Bitove, president of VisionCo, the company behind MCHH.

Acts like Sam Roberts, Barenaked Ladies and Tom Cochrane will perform along with comedians like Brent Butt and Sean Cullen. More than 350,000 cans of Molson Canadian will be poured.

Vancouver rocker Bryan Adams is rumoured to be the surprise guest who will kick off the festivities Friday night.

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